Politics & Government

Mendota Heights Legislators Vote Yes on Bonding

The bill includes money for DCTC and sewer infrastructure.

As part of the Legislature’s final push toward the end of session, a bonding bill passed in both the House and Senate Monday to provide bond funding for capital projects throughout the state, including Dakota County.

The House passed a $496.4 million package by a voted of 99-32, which was supported by Rep. Rick Hansen (D-South St. Paul). Hansen sits on the Capital Investment Committee that compiled the bonding bill. 

 “Given our crumbling infrastructure and the backlog of worthy public projects, I would have preferred to see a larger bill," said Hansen in a statement, "but this is a start and prevents the backlog from growing even larger.” 

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Many legislators refer to the bonding bill as a "jobs bill" because of the potential impact it could have on the building trades.

Republicans have pushed for a smaller bill to minimize additional state debt. House bill sponsor Rep. Larry Howes (R-Walker) told Session Daily the new total is a compromise in terms of spending.

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Sen. Jim Metzen (D-South St. Paul) also voted in favor of the bill in the Senate, where the vote was 45-22. Metzen successfully offered an amendment to include $500,000 in money to plan a floodwall in South St. Paul. This language had been included in earlier renditions of the bill. 

Differences between the House and Senate bills will have to be reconciled in conference committee, then repassed in the House and the Senate before the package can be sent to the governor.

Local Spending Notes:

­—$7.3 million for renovation of transportation and technology labs at Dakota County Technical College

— $4 million in inflow and infiltration funding to help cities repair local sewer infrastructure

— $6 million in funding for the Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM) program, which preserves habitat for wildlife

—$500,000 to build a floodwall in South St. Paul 

See Also:

Session Daily


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